Back to results
US 6,812,733 B1Granted
High-efficiency mixed voltage/current mode output driver
AssigneePMC-Sierra, Inc.
InventorsJohn Philip Plasterer, Jurgen Hissen, Victor Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Circuits and devices for an efficient, mixed voltage/current mode output driver. An output driver circuit includes a series terminated voltage mode driver circuit parallel with a current mode driver circuit. The output driver allows for a highly efficient driver but with an easily controllable output. It can be used for driving single ended or doubly terminated transmission lines.
Claims13
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a series terminated voltage mode driver circuit connected in parallel with a current mode driver circuit between a voltage source and ground,
- the outputs of said voltage and current mode driver circuits being connected in parallel and to a transmission line, the voltage mode driver circuit comprising:
- a pair of inverter circuits;
- a resistor divider circuit coupled between the pair of inverter circuits, the resistor divider circuit being divided into a first section, a second section, and a third section and having a pair of ends, each section being between the pair of ends, wherein
- a first input is coupled to a first one of the pair of inverter circuits;
- a second input is coupled to a second one of the pair of inverter circuits;
- the output is coupled to a first node between the first and second sections of the resistor divider circuit;
- a binary value applied to the first input is the same as a binary value received at the first output;
- and
- a binary value applied to the second input is the same as a binary value received at the second output.
7 more elements
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a series terminated voltage mode driver circuit connected in parallel with a current mode driver circuit between a voltage source and around.
- the outputs of said voltage and current mode driver circuits being connected in parallel and to a transmission line, the current mode driver circuit comprising:
- two pairs of transistors, each pair comprising a pMOS transistor and an nMOS transistor;
- and
- a pair of current sources, wherein
- for each pair of transistors,
- the gate leads of the pair of transistors are coupled to an input node;
- the drain leads of the pair of transistors are coupled to an output node;
- a source lead of the pMOS transistor is coupled to one of the pair of current sources;
- and
- a source lead of the nMOS transistor is coupled to the other of the pair of current sources,
- each input node is coupled to one of the pair of inputs;
- each output node is coupled to one of the pair of outputs;
- one of the pair of current sources is coupled between a voltage source leads of the PMOS transistors;
- and
- the other of the pair of current sources is coupled between a voltage source leads of the nMOS transistors and the ground.
13 more elements
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a series terminated voltage mode driver circuit connected in parallel with a current mode driver circuit between a voltage source and ground,
- the outputs of said voltage and current mode driver circuits being connected in parallel and to a transmission line, and
- a pre-emphasis circuit having an output coupled in parallel to the outputs of the voltage and current mode driver circuits, the pre-emphasis circuit receiving a pair of pre-emphasis inputs and providing a pre-emphasis for increasing an output voltage.
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a plurality of series terminated voltage mode drivers;
- a plurality of current mode drivers;
- outputs of the voltage mode and current mode drivers being coupled in parallel, each of the series terminated voltage mode drivers comprising:
- a pair of inverter circuits;
- a resistor divider circuit coupled between the pair of inverter circuits, the resistor divider circuit being divided into a first section, a second section, and a third section and having a pair of ends each section being between the pair of ends, wherein
- the first input is coupled to a first one of the pair of inverter circuits;
- the second input is coupled to a second one of the pair of inverter circuits;
- the first output is coupled to a first node between the first and second sections of the resistor divider circuit;
- and
- the second output is coupled to a second node between the second section and the third section, and wherein
- a binary value applied to the first input is the same as a binary value received at the first output;
- and
- a binary value applied to the second input is the same as a binary value received at the second output.
10 more elements
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a plurality of series terminated voltage mode drivers;
- a plurality of current mode drivers;
- outputs of the voltage mode and current mode drivers being coupled in parallel, one of the current mode drivers comprising:
- two pairs of transistors, each pair comprising a pMOS transistor and an nMOS transistor;
- and
- a pair of current sources, wherein
- for each pair of transistors,
- the gate leads of the pair of transistors are coupled to an input node;
- the drain leads of the pair of transistors are coupled to an output node;
- the source lead of the pMOS transistor is coupled to one of the pair of current sources;
- and
- the source lead of the nMOS transistor is coupled to the other of the pair of current sources,
- each input node is coupled to one of the pair of inputs;
- each output node is coupled to one of the pair of outputs;
- one of the pair of current sources is coupled between a voltage source and leads of the pMOS transistors;
- and
- the other of the pair of current sources is coupled between a voltage source and leads of the nMOS transistors and the ground.
14 more elements
A mixed voltage/current mode output driver circuit comprising:
- a plurality of series terminated voltage mode drivers;
- a plurality of current mode drivers;
- outputs of the voltage mode and current mode drivers being coupled in parallel, one of the current mode drivers comprising:
- two pairs of pre-emphasis transistors, each pair comprising a pMOS transistor and an nMOS transistor;
- a pair of pre-emphasis current sources,
- for each pair of pre-emphasis transistors:
- the gate leads of the pair of pre-emphasis transistors are coupled to a pre-emphasis input node;
- the drain leads of the pair of pre-emphasis transistors are coupled to a pre-emphasis output node;
- the source lead of the pMOS transistor is coupled to one of the pair of pre-emphasis current sources;
- and
- the source lead of the nMOS transistor is coupled to the other of the pair of pre-emphasis current sources,
- each pre-emphasis input node is coupled to one of the pair of pre-emphasis inputs;
- each pre-emphasis output node is coupled to one of the pair of outputs;
- one of the pair of pre-emphasis current sources is coupled between a voltage source and leads of the pMOS transistor;
- and
- the other of the pair of pre-emphasis current sources is coupled between a voltage source and leads of the nMOS transistors and ground.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.